Why are people not wearing masks?

[FergusComeLately]

I’m queuing inside my local supermarket, I’ve see one other person wearing a mask.

Does it not make sense to just TRY to protect other people and try and keep infection rates down. Even a scarf wound round your face?!

I think they should be compulsory when you are inside. Is it the PPE shortage which is preventing Boris from making it so?

Talk to me about masks!

[WhiteChocTwix]

@maggie90 I agree with you 100%!

My DF is in a care home with MND. We've been told by the home when we are allowed to visit again, one of the precautions being put in place is that we'll have to wear masks and gloves (which they'll provide on every visit). Wearing a mask correctly is small price to pay for seeing my Dad again before about 2025! (Obvs I know most ppl don't have this problem).

[jobhunter7]

[Whataloadofshite]

Unless you have a legitimate reason for not wearing one - for example if you have asthma and it will cause you a problem, then get a fucking grip and wear one.

If you can't wear one for some ridiculous bullshit reason such as not liking now they feel - then do us all a favour and stay indoors. Christ knows how you'd cope with a ventilator on your face but by then it's too late. Yes it makes you selfish. Tough shit if you don't like that.


If you're in an area with people around you, wear. A. Fucking. Mask.

You can make one if you can't buy one.

[TempsPerdu]

I am a nurse and I can tell you categorically that every single nurse will be wearing a mask

The nurses may, but none of the several doctors among my close friends and family do.

[NoHardSell]

Maggie90 do you mean you think nurses wear them on their days off?

Sorry - no healthcare professional I know does!

[BertieBotts]

I do but only because it is law where I am. If it was not law I would not wear one. I find it very stressful, and shopping while trying to distance and make sure I get everything on my list or a suitable alternative so I don't have to come back for as long as possible is already stressful enough.

[Ritascornershop]

If I had to take a plane or a bus I would. Just getting groceries I don’t think I’m protected or protecting by wearing one. It’s not our cultural norm, I’d feel an idiot, I think it would be really uncomfortable.

[Bubblebee7]

@TempsPerdu your right and Drs are known to have poor hand hygiene in general. Not all though just some. I’ve witnessed some Drs fall I’ll to COVID probably because of this. Nurses are in close contact and more often.

[shamalidacdak]

Because it's not compulsory due to an inept government that doesn't care about you. Where I live it's the law and I feel better for it. The UK is a laughing stock in the world for the way it has responded to the virus. Even poorer countries have safer strategies and have fewer dead. Take action and protect your self. Buy gloves and masks and hand sanitizer.

[midnightstar66]

Untried with the scarf but I was adjusting it constantly which defeated the purpose. I don't have any masks

[Jane67996]

Because I don't want to and that's my right!

[jobhunter7]

How to make a mask in about 30 seconds from an old sock:

www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/11629435/thrifty-mum-free-face-mask-old-sock-tiktok-no-sewing/

[TempsPerdu]

A few more thoughts: I have no plans to break any laws if masks should become compulsory (although tbh I’d be more inclined to avoid places that insist on them rather than wear one). But I won’t be doing so voluntarily.

I don’t deny that they may be of marginal benefit in the reduction of viral transmission, particularly if the infected person is asymptomatic. But for me this benefit is heavily outweighed by the negative aspects - the social impact, the difficulties in reading wearers’ facial expressions, the communication issues (I’m very anti masks being worn in schools for this reason) and the not inconsiderable discomfort of wearing one for any significant length of time.

[handbagsatdawn33]

Donald Fart won't wear one because he meets Kings etc, so I won't as you never know who you're standing next to in the Sainsbo queue.

[Bluegrass]

I think we’re pretty much fucked. I speak to friends in places Singapore and they understand how to deal with this, they’ve faced similar before and they take it so much more seriously than we do. We look absurd to them, like toddlers unable to look after ourselves in even the most basic ways. We’ll be trapped on this island for a long time as I can’t see anyone wanting Brits coming anywhere near them.

[Maggie90]

No, I am not saying they wear them on their days off. That is their personal choice. I can’t understand why they would wear one at work but not when they go shopping though.

What I am trying to highlight is however, if medical staff are wearing them at work (guidance mandates you to do so), they obviously help!

The bottom line is, they are not going to work if people do not follow the other measures but they will help if they do so what is the harm?!

I think it is also fair to say, when working with infectious disease you become somewhat desensitised after a while which could explain why they are not wearing mask outside of work (my opinion only).

[teraculum29]

I wear a mask at work, and I hate it.
And I ve noticed that I am actually touching my face more often, to adjust mask, or the mask is making my nose very itchy and breathing recycled air is not that healthy for your lungs, and if you wear glasses sometimes mask will make your glasses steam up so you are not seeing what are you doing.

[bengalcat]

I wear a mask at work but not in public . If I travelled to work on a crowded tube I’d wear one otherwise I give masked individuals an especially wide berth .

[firstimemamma]

I've seen plenty of professionals on the news saying that masks aren't effective if you're just going about your day to day life (as opposed to say working in a hospital) for various reasons. On this basis I've made my decision to not wear a mask. I'm doing everything else I can e.g. I can honestly say I haven't seen a single friend or family member since this whole thing began. Don't think I'm not taking things seriously because I'm not wearing a mask or think "don't you at least want to try?"

The evidence you've heard is obviously different and suggests that wearing a mask is a good thing. I won't argue with that and respect your decision. Please respect the decision of non-mask wearers like me because we're all doing what we think is right.

[PaulHollywoodsSexGut]

I don’t want to.

And until it’s mandated, I won’t.

[Alymcnabs]

I don’t wear a mask because I have no symptoms of CV so have no need to protect others.

Those that wear masks and gloves to the supermarkets can you not dump them in the trolley once you are done? Nobody wants to use a trolley containing your manky, used mask and gloves. Thank you!

[Rainycloudyday]

Because I’m in denial that I’m living in a world where we’re all expected to wear face masks and avoid human contact for goodness knows how long. Because I don’t want it to be normal

[PaulHollywoodsSexGut]

Feel the same @rainycloudyday and I suspect you’re feeling the same as me so have an unMumsnetty hug x

[jbee1979]

I ordered fabric on eBay to make my own and it's a week late, otherwise I'd joyfully be wearing my mask with so much pride.

[MilkLady02]

If your glasses are steaming up, it means your breath is escaping from the mask.....rendering it relatively pointless. Unless you’re going to purposely cough and sneeze with out a tissue, a mask won’t be of much more benefit.